Cigarette testing apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for testing the tobacco ends of cigarettes comprises means for compressing the cigarette ends sideways by means of compressed air. The degree of compression produced by the air may be monitored for example by using a light beam which can pass by the cigarette end only when the end is soft, or by using a fluidics device for detecting the extent to which the cigarette end restricts the out-flow of air.

United States Patent McEnery I [541 CIGARETTE TESTING APPARATUS [72] Inventor: John McEnery, London, England [73] Assignee: Molins Machine Company Limited,

London, England [22] Filed: Dec. 8, 1970 [21] App]. No.: 96,188

[52] U.S. Cl. ..209/79, 73/37.6, 209/111.7 [51] Int. Cl. ..B07c 3/10 [58] Field of Search ..73/37.5, 37.6, 45.1;

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Hester ..209/79 X 51 Nov. 21, 1972 10/1969 Schmermund.........250/223 R 3,483,970 12/1969 McArthur ..209/79 X 3,485,357 12/1969 Payne ..73/37.6 X 3,595,067 7/1971 Von Der Lohe ..73/37.6

Primary Examiner-Richard A. Schacher Att0rneyLowry, Rinehart, Markva & Smith [5 7 ABSTRACT Apparatus for testingthe tobacco ends of cigarettes comprises means for compressing the cigarette ends sideways by means of compressed air. The degree of compression produced by the air may be monitored for example by using a light beam which can pass by the cigarette end only when the end is soft, or by using a fluidics device for detecting the extent to which the cigarette end restricts the out-flow of air.

14 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED v 3,703,235

SHEET 1 OF 2 INVEWTJR CIGARETTE TESTING APPARATUS This invention is concerned particularly with checking that the tobacco ends of cigarettes are adequately filled. For example, in the case of filtertipped cigarettes, the tobacco ends are the smoking ends; alternatively in the case of non-tipped cigarettes both ends are tobacco ends and it may be desirable to test that both ends are adequately filled.

According to the present invention the tobacco ends of cigarettes are tested by compressing the ends transversely to the axis of the cigarette by means of compressed air acting on the surface of the cigarettes, and detecting when a cigarette end is compressed by the air by a predetermined amount which indicates that the cigarette end is inadequately filled.

In one preferredtesting apparatus according to this invention, the compressed air is delivered from an air .outlet to produce a jet which is directed towards the side of the cigarette end to compress it, and the detecting means comprises a source of light from which a light beam is transmitted along a path such that the beam is interrupted by the side of the cigarette end against which the air jet impinges, except when the cigarette end is sufficiently soft to be compressed by a predetermined amount by the air jet.

In a different form of testing apparatus according to this invention, the compressed air is fed through a passage which opens out close to the cigarette end so that the flow of air through the passage is restricted by the cigarette to a degree dependent upon the firmness of the cigarette end, and the detecting means comprises a device responsive to the amount of air flow through the passage; The detecting means is preferably a fluidics device. The passage in this case is preferably in a conveyor carrying the cigarettes.

Examples of cigarette testing apparatus according to this invention are shown in the accompanying drawings. In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the light path employed in one apparatus constructed according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing an apparatus using a light beam in accordance with the principle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one of the optical elements shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic drawing of a different testing apparatus including a fluidics sensing circuit; and

FIG. 5 shows a modification of part of the fluidics circuit in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cigarettes are carried during testing in flutes 2 in a fluted drum 1. A drum 3 has flutes 4 which cooperate with the flutes 2 in the drum 1 to substantially surround a cigarette 5b at a testing station situated between the two drums. Three cigarettes are shown, cigarette 5a is one just approaching the testing station, cigarette 5b is a cigarette being tested, and cigarette 5c is a cigarette which has just been tested.

Each flute 4 of the drum 3 has an air jet nozzle 6 which can be fed through a passage 7 from a central compressed air chamber 8 in the center of the drum 3 in order to apply air pressure to the side of the end portion of the cigarette. Application of this air pressure will deform the end of the cigarette, in any event, but will deform it beyond a predetermined amount if the end of the cigarette is soft".

Between each adjacent pair of passage 7 is positioned an optical element 9 which in this embodiment is made of perspex and shown in FIG. 3. Two elements 9 in positions 9A and 9B are shown in full.

Each optical element 9 has three entrance or exit windows 10a, 10b and and three internally reflecting'surfaces 11a, 11b and 110. Light entering the window 10a will be internally reflected at the surface 11a and further internally reflected at the surfaces 11b and and emerge from the optical element through the windows 10b or 10c. Alternatively the light may enter either the windows 10b or 100 and emerge from the optical element through the window 10a.

A light source 12 and a light detector in the form of a photocell 13 are located within the drum 3 with their optical axes substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum 3. The light source 12 and photocell 13 are positioned so that a light being projected by the light source 12 enters an optical element through the window 10a when the optical element is in the position of the optical elements 9a shown in FIG. 2. The light leaves the optical elements 9a through the window 10b and, if there were no cigarettes in the flute 4 between the optical elements 9a and 9b the light ray would enter the next adjacent optical element 9b through its window 100, be internally reflected by the surfaces 11c and 11a and emerge through the window 10a to be picked up by the photocell 13 and thus energize the latter. However, if there is a cigarette in the flute 4 between the two optical elements 9a and 9b then the light beam will not be received by the optical element 9b nor by the photocell 13.

In the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 compressed air from the central chamber 8 passes down each passage 7 as it reaches the position of the passage 7b in FIG. 2. The compressed air leaves the passage 7b through the nozzle 6 and is applied to the end portion of the cigarette 5b.

The pressure of the air tends, in any case, to deform this end portion of the cigarette but if the cigarette is satisfactory i.e. does not have a so end, then the amount of deformation will not be sufficient to enable the light beam emanating from the window 10b of the optical element 9a to pass across the interior of the flute 4 and be received through the window 100 of the opticalelement 9b. On the other hand if the cigarette has a so end then the deformation will be sufficient to allow the light beam to pass and thus cause the photocell 13 to be energized. The signal from the photocell would then be used to cause the unsatisfactory cigarette to be rejected at a later stage in its handling.

The ends testing apparatus described above may be combined with cigarette wrapper testing apparatus. For example, the wrapper testing apparatus may be in accordance with that described in South African Pat. No. 69/0516 which describes a device in which cigarettes are carried by a fluted carrier drum which cooperates with a fluted closure drum. The carrier drum may also serve as the drum 1 of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 4 shows a different ends testing apparatus using a fluidics circuit. As shown in FIG. 4, cigarettes 2 are carried sideways in axial circumferentially-spaced flutes in a conveyor drum 4. The cigarettes all lie with their filters 2A at one side of the drum 4. At the tobacco end of each cigarette there is a radial passageway 6 in the drum which opens out near the end of the cigarette. Compressed air is supplied to each passageway 6 in turn at a testing station by means of a stationary manifold 8 which is in sliding and sealing contact with the end face of the drum. While being carried by the drum 4, the cigarettes are held in position in the flutes by means of suction applied through ports 10 and 12 from a suction space 14.

The compressed air is supplied to a manifold 8 from a source 16 via a variable restrictor l8. Owing to the restrictor, which produces a pressure drop dependent upon the air flow through each passage 6, the pressure at a pipe junction 20 is dependent upon the firmness of the cigarette end. There is a bleed to atmosphere from the junction 20 through a fixed restrictor 21; this restrictor could however be variable. If the end is adequately filled and consequently firm, there is relatively little air flow out through the passage 6, so that the pressure at the junction 20 is relatively high. On the other hand, if the cigarette end is inadequately filled or even hollow, so that it is readily compressed by the air, more air flows out through the passage 6, with the result that the pressure at the junction 20 is reduced.

In the arrangement shown in FIG. 4, the pressure at the junction 20 is monitored by means of a fluidics circuit-which is as follows. The pipe connecting the restrictor 18 to the manifold 8 is connected at the junction '20 to a pipe 22- leading to the input of a monostable fluidics device 24; this device has compressed air supplied to it from a source 26 via a variable restrictor 28 and includes an air output pipe 30 and an exhaust 32.

The pipe 30 from the device 24 is connected to one input of an AND device 34. This device has another input which is connected by a pipe 36 to a junction 37 between a further manifold 38 and a variable. restrictor 40 through which air is blown from a source 42. While each cigarette is being tested, the manifold 38 communicates with a radial passage 44 which is closed at its outer end by the cigarette 2. The purpose of this is to provide an air pulse only when there is a cigarette in the flute of the conveyor drum at the testing station. Whenever such a pulse is generated, the application of the pulse through the pipe 36 to the AND device 34 results in the production of an air pulse which is delivered through a pipe 46 to an interface-valve 48 by which air from a source 50 is fed to an ejection nozzle 52 which blows faulty cigarettes axially off the drum 4; the operation of the ejection nozzle could be arranged to occur after a predetermined delay.

As already mentioned, the device 24 is monostable. Accordingly it normally delivers air continuously from the source 26 to the pipe 30. This supply of air is interrupted only in the event that the pressure at the junction 20 is above a predetermined minimum level indicative of the presence of an adequately filled cigarette end. Each adequately filled cigarette end thus results in the air flow from the source 26 being deflected out through the exhaust 32, so that no air flow is directed out through the pipe 30. When a flow of air is directed out through the pipe 30 as a result of an inadequately filled cigarette end, this results in a pulse being transmitted to the pipe 46 by the AND device 34 only if an air pulse is also applied through the pipe 36, and this depends upon a cigarette being in the corresponding flute of the drum 4. When there is no cigarette in the flute, there is no significant pulse through the pipe 36 and the result is that no output pulse is applied through the pipe 46, thus avoiding a continuous succession of air pulses from the nozzle 52 while the machine is running without any cigarettes on the drum 4.

As an example, the air pressure sources 16, 26 and 42 may be at five pounds per square inch, and the source 50 may be at approximately 40 pounds per square inch.

It will be appreciated that the suction applied through the ports 10 and 12 should be sufficient to ensure that each cigarette is held firmly on the drum and is not moved away to any extent by the pressure applied through the compressed air passage 6 and 44.

It is an important feature of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4 that the end of the cigarette is accurately positioned relative to the open end of the passage 6. Any slight variation in the diameter of the cigarette will not affect the ends test.

FIG. 5 shows a modification by which the monostable device 24 in FIG. 4 is replaced by a Schmitt trigger device 52. This has an input 54 for a bias signal which is fed from an air source 56 via a variable restrictor 58. There is also an exhaust 55 through which the air flow from the source 26 is deflected whenever the pressure in the pipe 22 reaches a predetermined value. This value is adjustable by varying the bias signal; that is to say, by adjusting the restrictor 58.

Whenever the pressure in the pipe 22 is below this predetermined value, thus indicating a faulty cigarette, air flows out through the pipe 30 and this results in the ejection of the faulty cigarette in the manner already described.

There may in addition be a means for testing for missing filters. Oneexample of such a device is as follows. A pivoted shoe is pressed against the side of the filter by a spring so as to cause the cork tocollapse when the filter is missing. This allows the shoe to move and thus open a port at the end of a passage in a stationary member to which the shoe is pivoted. A compressed air source is connected to the passage via a restrictor so that a flow of air through the passage (resulting from a missing filter) reduces the pressure at a junction lying between the restrictor and the port. A pipe connects this junction to one of the inputs of an AND device like the device 34. The other input of this AND device would be connected to the pipe 36, and the output of this AND device would be connected to the pipe 46. Thus a missing filter would result in the cigarette being blown out by an air jet from the nozzle 52.

in place of the fluidics circuit in FIG. 4, the pressure at the junction 20 may be monitored for example by a diaphragm transducer giving an electrical output signal.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for testing the tobacco ends of cigarettes, each formed by a tubular wrapper surrounding a filler of tobacco, comprising means for compressing the cigarette ends transversely to the axes of the cigarettes by means of compressed air acting on the curved side surface of each cigarette formed by an end portion of the cigarette wrapper, and means for detecting when the side surface of the cigarette is deflected by the air by a predetermined amount which indicates that the cigarette end is inadequately filled.

2. Apparatus for testing the tobacco ends of cigarettes, comprising an air outlet to produce a jet which is directed transversely to the axis of the cigarette towards the side surface of each cigarette end to compress it, and a detecting means comprising a source of light from which a light beam is transmitted along a path such that the beam is interrupted by the side of the cigarette end against which the air jet impinges, except when the cigarette end is sufficiently soft to be compressed by a predetermined amount by the air jet indicating that the cigarette end is inadequately filled.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 comprising a conveyor for carrying cigarettes sideways one at a time past a test station, and a rotary member which moves at the same peripheral speed as the conveyor and is formed with a number of circumferentially-spaced radial air outlets each of which is arranged to deliver a jet of air towards a cigarette at the testing station, and which includes a number of circumferentiallyspaced light reflecting devices by which a light beam emitted by a stationary source of light is reflected past the cigarette end at the testing station and then towards a stationary light receiving device.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the light reflecting devices consist of bodies of transparent material having light reflecting surfaces to reflect the light beam along the required path.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which each body has one surface angled to reflect an axial beam radially, and two surfaces to reflect radial beams circumferentially, and in which the light beams emitted by the light source and received by the light receiver are axial in relation to the rotary member carrying the light-reflecting bodies.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the light reflecting bodies lie between the air outlets and in which the light beam which detects the condition of each cigarette at the testing station passes through two light reflecting bodies lying on opposite sides of the cigarette at the testing station.

7. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the conveyor which carries the cigarettes past the testing station is a fluted drum.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 including means for ejecting each cigarette which allows a light beam of a predetermined strength to reach the light receiving device.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 including a device for testing the wrappers of the cigarettes for leaks, and in which a common ejection device is energized whenever a cigarette is found faulty either by the wrapper testing device or by the ends testing device.

10. A method of testing the tobacco ends of cigarettes formed by a tubular wrapper surrounding a filler of tobacco, comprising conveying the cigarettes sideways one at a time past a test station, compressing the ends of the cigarettes transversely to the axes of the cigarettes by means of compressed air at the test station acting on the curved side surface of each cigarette formed b an end ortion of the ci arett wr ,d tecting th e amoun by which the s ide stirfa e t ea h cigarette end is deflected by the compressed air, and ejecting each cigarette of which the side surface is deflected beyond a predetermined amount.

11. Apparatus for testing the tobacco ends of cigarettes formed by a tubular wrapper surrounding a filler of tobacco, comprising conveyor means for carrying the cigarettes sideways successively through a testing station, a nozzle mounted at the testing station for directing a jet of air on to the curved side surface formed by an end portion of the wrapper of the cigarette at the testing station, and means responsive to the amount by which the end portion of the cigarette wrapper is deflected by the air jet to indicate any occurrence of an inadequately filled cigarette end.

12. Apparatus for detecting, cigarettes having inadequately filled ends, said cigarettes being formed by a tubular wrapper surrounding a filler of tobacco, said apparatus comprising a. pneumatic means for applying a predetermined amount of compressive force to the portion of the surface of each of said cigarettes formed by an end portion of the cigarette wrapper, said compressive force being applied to each cigarette end in a direction transversely to the axis of the cigarette, and

b. means for sensing any of said portions of the surface of said cigarettes which are compressed by at least a predetermined amount indicating an inadequately filled end.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said sensing means comprises photoelectric means.

14. A method for detecting the tobacco ends of cigarettes having inadequately filled ends, said cigarettes being formed by a tubular wrapper surrounding a filler of tobacco, comprising the steps of a. applying a predetermined amount of compressive force by means by an air jet to the portion of the surface of each of said cigarettes formed by an end portion of the cigarette wrapper, said compressive force being applied to each cigarette end in a direction transversely to the axes of the cigarettes, and

b. sensing any of said portions of the surface of said cigarettes which are compressed by at least a predetermined amount indicating an inadequately filled end. 

1. Apparatus for testing the tobacco ends of cigarettes, each formed by a tubular wrapper surrounding a filler of tobacco, comprising means for compressing the cigarette ends transversely to the axes of the cigarettes by means of compressed air acting on the curved side surface of each cigarette formed by an end portion of the cigarette wrapper, and means for detecting when the side surface of the cigarette is deflected by the air by a predetermined amount which indicates that the cigarette end is inadequately filled.
 1. Apparatus for testing the tobacco ends of cigarettes, each formed by a tubular wrapper surrounding a filler of tobacco, comprising means for compressing the cigarette ends transversely to the axes of the cigarettes by means of compressed air acting on the curved side surface of each cigarette formed by an end portion of the cigarette wrapper, and means for detecting when the side surface of the cigarette is deflected by the air by a predetermined amount which indicates that the cigarette end is inadequately filled.
 2. Apparatus for testing the tobacco ends of cigarettes, comprising an air outlet to produce a jet which is directed transversely to the axis of the cigarette towards the side surface of each cigarette end to compress it, and a detecting means comprising a source of light from which a light beam is transmitted along a path such that the beam is interrupted by the side of the cigarette end against which the air jet impinges, except when the cigarette end is sufficiently soft to be compressed by a predetermined amount by the air jet indicating that the cigarette end is inadequately filled.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 comprising a conveyor for carrying cigarettes sideways one at a time past a test station, and a rotary member which moves at the same peripheral speed as the conveyor and is formed with a number of circumferentially-spaced radial air outlets each of which is arranged to deliver a jet of air towards a cigarette at the testing station, and which includes a number of circumferentially-spaced light reflectIng devices by which a light beam emitted by a stationary source of light is reflected past the cigarette end at the testing station and then towards a stationary light receiving device.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the light reflecting devices consist of bodies of transparent material having light reflecting surfaces to reflect the light beam along the required path.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which each body has one surface angled to reflect an axial beam radially, and two surfaces to reflect radial beams circumferentially, and in which the light beams emitted by the light source and received by the light receiver are axial in relation to the rotary member carrying the light-reflecting bodies.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the light reflecting bodies lie between the air outlets and in which the light beam which detects the condition of each cigarette at the testing station passes through two light reflecting bodies lying on opposite sides of the cigarette at the testing station.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the conveyor which carries the cigarettes past the testing station is a fluted drum.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 including means for ejecting each cigarette which allows a light beam of a predetermined strength to reach the light receiving device.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 8 including a device for testing the wrappers of the cigarettes for leaks, and in which a common ejection device is energized whenever a cigarette is found faulty either by the wrapper testing device or by the ends testing device.
 10. A method of testing the tobacco ends of cigarettes formed by a tubular wrapper surrounding a filler of tobacco, comprising conveying the cigarettes sideways one at a time past a test station, compressing the ends of the cigarettes transversely to the axes of the cigarettes by means of compressed air at the test station acting on the curved side surface of each cigarette formed by an end portion of the cigarette wrapper, detecting the amount by which the side surface of each cigarette end is deflected by the compressed air, and ejecting each cigarette of which the side surface is deflected beyond a predetermined amount.
 11. Apparatus for testing the tobacco ends of cigarettes formed by a tubular wrapper surrounding a filler of tobacco, comprising conveyor means for carrying the cigarettes sideways successively through a testing station, a nozzle mounted at the testing station for directing a jet of air on to the curved side surface formed by an end portion of the wrapper of the cigarette at the testing station, and means responsive to the amount by which the end portion of the cigarette wrapper is deflected by the air jet to indicate any occurrence of an inadequately filled cigarette end.
 12. Apparatus for detecting cigarettes having inadequately filled ends, said cigarettes being formed by a tubular wrapper surrounding a filler of tobacco, said apparatus comprising a. pneumatic means for applying a predetermined amount of compressive force to the portion of the surface of each of said cigarettes formed by an end portion of the cigarette wrapper, said compressive force being applied to each cigarette end in a direction transversely to the axis of the cigarette, and b. means for sensing any of said portions of the surface of said cigarettes which are compressed by at least a predetermined amount indicating an inadequately filled end.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said sensing means comprises photoelectric means. 